Clock

ABSTRACT

A clock frame has front supporting bars extending radially inwardly therefrom. A central panel which is substantially smaller than the clock frame is supported in the front central portion of the frame by the support bars, and a clock mechanism is attached to the central panel. The drive shafts of the clock mechanism extend rearwardly from the central panel and have a pair of hands attached thereto which project radially beyond the central panel so as to be visible from the front of the clock. The central panel covers all of the clock mechanism except the radially outer portions of the clock hands and may have advertising indicia thereon.

United States Patent Jan. 30, 1973 Trame I 1 CLOCK I [75] Inventor: Charles E. Trame, Fox Point, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Everhrite Electric Signs, Inc.,

South Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: April 5, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 241,368

[52] US. Cl. 58/53, 58/56, D42/7 R, D96/l2 {51] Int. Cl. ..G04b 37/00 [58] Field of Search ..58/5356, 50, 127, 58/148, 152; D42/7 R; D96/12; 40/33, 34; 224/4 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,096,122 5/1914 Partington ..58/50 X 2,506,134 5/1950 Burchell 2,534,877 12/1950 Owen 3,270,201 8/1966 Hardesty ..58/50 X Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R; Franklin Attorney-Arthur L. Morsell, Jr. et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A clock frame has front supporting bars extending radially inwardly therefrom. A central panel which is substantially smaller than the clock frame is supported in the front central portion of the frame by the support bars, and a clock mechanism is attached to the central panel. The drive shafts of the clock mechanism extend rearwardly from the central panel and have a pair of hands attached thereto which project radially beyond the central panel so as to be visible from the front of the clock. The central panel covers all of the clock mechanism except the radially outer portions of the clock hands and may have advertising indicia thereon.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures CLOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to clocks, and more particularly to clocks which are adapted to display advertising indicia. Many different types of clocks have been designed in the past bearing advertising indicia which meets the eye when the clock is viewed for the purpose of determining the time. The advertising value of such clocks is, however, much greater if the clock is unusually novel'in construction so as to attract the attention of viewers even when they do not desire to know the time. Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a clock which is unusually novel in construction and appearance and which is well adapted to bear advertising indicia.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clock of the above-noted character which is relatively simple in structure and reliable in operation.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a clock of the above-noted character which is relatively inexpensive in cost and neat and attractive in appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, the above-noted objects are attained by providing a clock having a central panel which is supported by support means which extends inwardlyfrom a frame. The central panel is substantially smaller than the frame, and a clock mechanism is supported on the central panel with the drive shafts of the clock mechanism projecting rearwardly therefrom. A pair of hands are attached to the drive shafts and project radially beyond the central panel so as to be visible from the front of the clock. The central panel covers all of the clock mechanism except the outer portions of the clock hands and may have advertising material on the front portion thereof.

BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of one illustrative embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the figures, one illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises a plastic frame 9 having a back panel 10 and four sloping side panels l2, 14, 1 6, and 18 which are preferably integrally joined to the back panel 10. Suitable front supporting means may be employed to support a central panel .28 within the frame while allowing interior visibility for the space within the clock which surrounds the central panel. This supporting means may take the form of transparent plastic or glass such as is suggested at 21, between the outer frame and the panel'28, either with or without supporting bars such as the bars 20, 22,24 and 26. In the preferred embodiment the bars are employed without any transparent material such as is suggested at.2l. In the latter case the open spacesbetween bars provide the visibility to the interior of the clock. Where bars are employed they may serve as hour markers for the 6, 9, 12 and 3 o'clock positions respectively. The central panel 28 may take various forms but, in

the preferred embodiment, it has an inner portion 30 and an outer portion 32.

The inner portion 30 of the central panel is framed by side portions 34, 36, 38, and 40 which are integrally joined to the inner panel portion'30 and to the inner ends of the supporting bars 20, 22, 24, and 26. The outer panel portion 32 may be removably attached to the inner panel portion 30 by means of a snug fit against side edges 34, 36, 38, and 40, and advertising indicia may be marked on the outer surface of panel portion 32.

An electric clock mechanism is mounted within a housing 42 which is supported by the central panel. In the preferred embodiment, where there are inner and outer panel portions 30and 32, the mechanism is supported by the inner panel portion 30. The drive shafts 44 and 46 of the clock mechanism are directed rearwardly through an opening 45 in the inner panel portion 30 and have clock hands 48 and 50 attached thereto. The clock hands .48 and 50 project radially beyond the central panel 28 so as to be visible from the front of the clock. Since the drive shafts for the clock hands 48 and 50 face toward the rear, the clock mechanism and the motor therefor must turn in the opposite direction from that of clocks whose drive shafts face frontwardly. The clock mechanism 42 can be a mechanical clock mechanism, if desired, but in the preferred embodiment of the invention it is an electric clock and an.electrical conductor 52 is provided for coupling electrical energy into the clock. The conductor 52 may have a plug attached to one end thereof, which is not shown in the drawing, and the conductor may be brought into the central panel 28 behind one of the supporting arms such as the arm 24 so as not to be visible from the front of the clock.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that this invention provides a clock which is unusually novel in construction and which is adapted to bear advertising indicia. And although this invention has been described in connection with one illustrative embodiment thereof, the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment since many modifications can be made in the disclosed structure without altering its fundamental principles of operation. For example, although four support bars are used in the disclosed embodiment with open spaces or transparent material therebetween, it will be apparent that more can be provided if desired, and also that the support bars could be replaced or used with clear plastic or glass such as suggested at 21. It is preferred to use a casing with a back such as the back 10. In such case the color of the back will contrast with the hands 48 and 50 so that the bands will be clearly visible. In other cases the back could be omitted and the clock placed against a surface which makes a suitable contrast with the hands so that the latter are clearly visible. Many such modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and this invention includes all such modifications as may fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A clock comprising a frame, front supporting means within and supported by said frame, a front central panel supported by said supporting means, said panel being of substantially less size than said frame 7 and said front supporting means providing interior visibility for the area surrounding the front central panel, clock mechanism supported by said front central panel and having rearwardly projecting drive shafts, and a pair of rotatable hands positioned behind said front supporting means and front central panel and driven by said drive shafts and having portions projecting radially beyond the front central panel so as to be visible from the front of the clock.

2. A clock as defined in claim 1 wherein said front supporting means comprises a pluralityof' supporting bars extending radially inwardly from said frame to said front central panel.

3. A clock as defined in claim 2 in which said supporting bars are spaced to serve as hour markers for the clock face.

4. A clock as defined in claim 1 wherein said front central panel comprises an inner portion which is supported by said front supporting means and an outer portion which is removably secured to said inner portion, and in which said clock mechanism is supported on said inner portion.

5. A clock as defined in claim 4 in which said clock mechanism is supported between the inner and outer central panel portions.

6. A clock as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame is square and wherein said front central panel is square and wherein said front supporting means comprises four supporting bars extending radially inwardly from said frame to said front central panel, said supporting bars being positioned to serve as hour markers for the 12, 3, 6, and 9 oclock positions.

7. A clock as defined in claim 6 wherein said frame comprises a square back panel having four side panels attached to the sides thereof, said supporting bars each being attached between one side panel and to a corresponding side edge of said front central panel. 

1. A clock comprising a frame, front supporting means within and supported by said frame, a front central panel supported by said supporting means, said panel being of substantially less size than said frame and said front supporting means providing interior visibility for the area surrounding the front central panel, clock mechanism supported by said front central panel and having rearwardly projecting drive shafts, and a pair of rotatable hands positioned behind said front supporting means and front central panel and driven by said drive shafts and having portions projecting radially beyond the front central panel so as to be visible from the front of the clock.
 1. A clock comprising a frame, front supporting means within and supported by said frame, a front central panel supported by said supporting means, said panel being of substantially less size than said frame and said front supporting means providing interior visibility for the area surrounding the front central panel, clock mechanism supported by said front central panel and having rearwardly projecting drive shafts, and a pair of rotatable hands positioned behind said front supporting means and front central panel and driven by said drive shafts and having portions projecting radially beyond the front central panel so as to be visible from the front of the clock.
 2. A clock as defined in claim 1 wherein said front supporting means comprises a plurality of supporting bars extending radially inwardly from said frame to said front central panel.
 3. A clock as defined in claim 2 in which said supporting bars are spaced to serve as hour markers for the clock face.
 4. A clock as defined in claim 1 wherein said front central panel comprises an inner portion which is supported by said front supporting means and an outer portion which is removably secured to said inner portion, and in which said clock mechanism is supported on said inner portion.
 5. A clock as defined in claim 4 in which said clock mechanism is supported between the inner and outer central panel portions.
 6. A clock as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame is square and wherein said front central panel is square and wherein said front supporting means comprises four supporting bars extending radially inwardly from said frame to said front central panel, said supporting bars being positioned to serve as hour markers for the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o''clock positions. 